$62 million available for Holocaust survivors – Australians included
Australian Holocaust survivors who failed to gain compensation from the Hardship Fund can now re-apply.
The Claims Conference has announced the results of further negotiations with the German government in Berlin on Thursday releasing a further US$42 million. This fresh injection of funds will mean compensation for 13,000 victims of Nazi oppression in 36 countries, most of whom have never been successful in prior claims.
The money is aimed at those who failed to achieve compensation in the past due to ineligibility, with each successful applicant being granted around $5250.
Surviving Holocaust victims still alive on March 19, 2009 are eligible. But if they pass away after this date, their surviving spouse can claim. If the spouse is no longer alive, the right of application passes to the applicant’s children.
The funds are available only to those who have never received compensation. This represents a change in German law which previously barred unsuccessful compensation claimants from re-applying.
The Claims Conference intends contacting those previously unsuccessful. The Hardship Funds criteria can be found at www.claimscon.org
